This is the perfect retreat on a scenic Vermont lake—a lovely spot for fishing, swimming, canoeing, or just relaxing. It is just 15 miles from the Burlington airport.

Although it is fully insulated and comfortable any time of year, our local zoning ordinance restricts occupancy to the equivalent of seven months per year, or 214 days. For that reason, we schedule reservations from April through November, with a cutoff if that limit is reached. We seldom reach that threshhold, so if you are interested in a winter visit, let us know and we will check for availability. In general, the Hinesburg cottage is rented on a weekly basis (Sunday to Sunday), but we sometimes have flexibility for renting for other lengths of time. This is particularly true in April, May, or November, or if you are taking advantage of a vacancy that is coming up in just a few days due to a cancellation.

Would you like to be notified if any specific date opens up because of a cancellation? Please e-mail us with your request.

Dates marked in red on calendar are not available at this time.

The cottage is approximately 22 x 22 feet, with a path leading down a short wooded hill to our lake frontage. Our frontage is not expansive, but includes a dock and is pleasant for swimming, fishing, or launching a small boat. We provide an aluminum canoe. If you bring your own boat that is too large to conveniently launch from our lake frontage, there is a nearby public access.

Although the cottage backs up to ten acres of woods, there are several other cottages and residences on this part of the lake, including one next-door and another immediately adjacent to our lake frontage. However, because of the position of the building, the other structures are usually not noticeable from the deck, side yard, or the cottage windows overlooking the lake.

One nice feature in back of the cottage is a hanging bridge, which crosses a ravine on our property. It's 250 feet long, about 20 feet off the ground in places, with a great view of the plants and trees, depending on the season. For those who enjoy short scenic walks, the hanging bridge is pretty special. (See the photo at the bottom on the right side of this page.)

The cottage combines rustic charm with modern convenience. It has cedar shingles, natural wood floors and walls, a full kitchen with dishwasher and gas range, and versatile options for living and sleeping. The space can easily accommodate a family with up to two or three children, or up to two couples. Although there is sufficient bedding for as many as eight people, a group that size may find the living space a bit crowded. The flexibility of the sleeping space is handy, however, if you have guests who wish to spend the night.

The cottage is completely furnished, including dishes, pots and pans, sheets and towels, linens, telephone, etc.

There is sleeping space for six, or up to eight in a pinch, although, as noted, the living quarters would be cramped with that many people inside on a rainy day.

One bedroom, generally preferred by kids, contains built-in bunk beds (twin size) and a ladder to a sleeping loft with a full-size firm mattress. Another bedroom contains a full-size bed—probably the most comfortable sleeping space for adults.

Meanwhile the living room—a lovely space with gas fireplace and view of the lake—includes a futon couch that can fold down into a full-size bed. If you have guests you'd like to invite to spend the night, the extra sleeping space is convenient.

There is a television with a DVD player. There is no cable, but an antenna with rotor brings in local stations. We also have on hand miscellaneous puzzles, books, and games. A small stereo is available for radio, CDs, and audio tapes. We do not currently have Internet access (other than the phone line, which could be used for a dial-up modem), but you are welcome to drop by our nearby home to check your e-mail. Also, the nearby Hinesburg library offers free wireless.

For cooking, there's a charcoal grill outside and a full kitchen inside—with gas range, full-size refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave, coffee maker, toaster, coffee grinder, etc.

For eating indoors, there is a small table with a folding leaf in the kitchen and a breakfast nook on the "view" side of the building. Outdoors there is a pleasant deck with table and chairs.

The running water comes from a deep well. The bathroom includes a shower but not a tub. The water heater is small, but recovers quickly.

When you arrive, you'll find fresh flowers. The refrigerator and cupboards are stocked with food items that are particularly appropriate for breakfasts, such as eggs, sausages, frozen waffles, and Vermont maple syrup, as well as basics such as bread, milk, and condiments. We try to be sure that you won't have to pack a lot of stuff and that you won't have to rush out shopping for supplies when you first get here.

We will not intrude upon your privacy to change the sheets or make the beds during your stay, although beds will be freshly made on your arrival. We will, of course, maintain a supply of clean linens.

A telephone is included. The phone number is unpublished, to protect guests from unwanted calls. However, if you make reservations and want the number to give to family and friends before you leave home, we will, of course, be happy to provide it.

Pets are welcome, as long as they are kept under control by their owners. Please do not bring pets that may disturb the neighbors, either with noise or physical threats. If your pet causes damage to the property, you will be expected to assume responsibility and pay for repairs. With those caveats, this is a pet-friendly cottage in a pet-friendly neighborhood.

If you smoke, we ask that you step out onto the deck before lighting up.

Most rentals are for a full week, at a price lower than the per-day charge. In general, we expect that rentals during the summer months and some of the other peak times of year will be by full weeks or multiples thereof. Standard prices and terms are as follows:

We request that you make every effort to be sure of your travel plans before you make a reservation. Please keep in mind that the time you reserve is made unavailable to anybody else, and we may turn away many others who are inquiring about that period. Because most people plan vacations well in advance, it is often difficult to re-rent with short notice. For that reason, the deposit is nonrefundable. The balance of the rental fee for the week will be excused if you cancel at least a month ahead of the scheduled date, or if we are able to re-rent.

Payments may be made by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover) or by check. Reservations may be made by phone 802-482-2988 or 1-800-310-8320) or by exchanging e-mail with us at cottage (at) upperaccess.com. If you pay by credit card (as the majority of our guests do), it is usually most convenient to provide the credit-card information by telephone.

If you prefer to pay your $100 deposit on-line by credit card, we have set up a secure order form for that purpose. Click here for the on-line payment page. This will charge your account right away while you are on-line, so before doing so, please be sure to confirm the reservation by phone or e-mail.

Keep in mind that our credit-card gateway is designed mainly to take book orders for our home business. Therefore, it'll ask about a shipping charge; but choose the option for rentals that avoids the shipping charge. If anything gets confusing, remember that you can always make your credit-card payment by phone, at 802-482-2988 or (from most locations) toll-free at 1-800-310-8320. The phone numbers are secure land lines to our home office, and we answer during extended hours weekdays, evenings, and weekends.

We also offer other cottages, some 30 miles to the north of us on Metcalf Pond in Fletcher, Vermont. This is also a wonderful vacation spot year-around, and during the winter is only a short drive from the Smugglers Notch ski area. For more information about the Fletcher cottages click here.

Lake frontage is down
a short path from deck.

View from parking area

Living area with gas
fireplace & futon couch

Lake frontage and dock
on a breezy fall day

Living area opens up
to the deck

This bedroom opens to
living area via curtain wall

Built-in bunks, with steps
to sleeping loft

Full kitchen with gas
range and dishwasher

Breakfast Nook

Deck has charcoal grill
and glass-top table

Stairs and a path lead to
lake frontage, though it's
possible to also drive
around to it.

The lake is good for
swimming & fishing. We
provide the canoe

This hanging bridge behind
the cottage spans a ravine
on our land, a great scenic
walk.

Driving Directions to the
Lake Iroquois Cottage

Steve or Lisa Carlson
85 Upper Access Road
Hinesburg, VT 05461

Click to Email
800-310-8320
802-482-2988